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House advances child welfare overhaul with expanded reporting, education coordination and review changes
Summary
The House passed a bill to enhance child welfare protections, increasing reporting requirements for the Department of Children and Families, clarifying the Office of the Child Advocate’s independence, improving coordination with education agencies, and altering the child fatality review structure; multiple amendments were adopted on the floor.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to pass to engrossment a comprehensive child welfare bill that lawmakers said expands reporting requirements, strengthens oversight and coordination, and changes the structure of the state’s child fatality review process.
House bill H 46 44, described on the floor as “An act enhancing child welfare protections,” cleared the House after debate and a series of adopted floor amendments and roll calls. The clerk displayed a final tally of 159 yeas and 1 nay when the House voted to pass the bill to be engrossed.
Representatives described the bill as the product of years of collaboration among agencies, advocates and committee staff. Representative Livingstone of Boston, speaking in support, said the bill “ensures that every child in the Commonwealth that comes in contact with the Department of Children and Families receives the protection, stability, and opportunity they deserve.” He outlined major provisions the House described on the floor: expanded and more timely reporting by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) on placement trends,…
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